Evaluation of Availability, Prices, and Affordability of Medicines for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Viruses at Community Pharmacies in a Senatorial District in North-Central Nigeria
Author(s)
Felicia E. Williams, Boomer, BPharm, PharmD, MCommH, MBA, PhD(PH), PhD(C.Pharm)1, David Ufuoma Adje, Boomer, BPharm, MPharm, MPH, PhD2, Oladuntoye Q. Adeshewa, Gen Z, BPharm3;
1University of Ilorin, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Ilorin, Nigeria, 2Delta State University, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, Abraka, Nigeria, 3Uniosun Teaching Hospital, Department of Pharmacy, Osogbo, Nigeria
1University of Ilorin, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Ilorin, Nigeria, 2Delta State University, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, Abraka, Nigeria, 3Uniosun Teaching Hospital, Department of Pharmacy, Osogbo, Nigeria
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: Availability, prices and affordability (APA) of medicines for hepatitis B (MsHBV) and hepatitis C (MsHCV) constitute public health concerns despite effective pharmacotherapy for these infections. Information on APA of MsHBV and MsHCV in North-Central Nigeria is scarce. Thus, this study evaluated APA of MsHBV and MsHCV at community pharmacies in a senatorial district in North-Central Nigeria.
METHODS: This multi-center study involved 36 randomly sampled eligible community pharmacies in June - August 2023. It adapted World Health Organization (WHO)/Health Action International (HAI) methods to evaluate APA of MsHBV and MsHCV in stock on a one-time visit to the pharmacies. The lists of MsHBV and MsHCV were based on WHO Essential Medicine List (EML [2019]) and Nigerian EML (2020). Data analyses involved descriptive and inferential statistics (bi-variate regression). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. This study's ethical approval was obtained from an Institutional Review Committee (ERC/MOH/2023/07/137).
RESULTS: Availability of MsHBV and MsHCV was 100% and 20% respectively. For individual MsHBV, majority (83.3%) had very low availability (< 30.0%). Only tenofovir disoproxil fumarate tablet had 33.3% availability. Also, individual MsHCV had very low availability (2.8%). Regarding prices of MsHBV, median buyer price (MBP) ranged NGN 65.84 - NGN 39,805 (USD 0.09 - USD 54.41). Most MsHBV had median price ratio (MPR) < 1. However, MsHCV had MPR > 1. Additionally, the lowest-paid Nigeria government employee required more than one day's wage (NGN 1000 [USD 1.37) to purchase available MsHBV and MsHCV. Prices of MsHBV were no predictors of their availability (p = 0.680).
CONCLUSIONS: Most MsHBV and all MsHCV had very low availability. All MsHBV were cheaper than international standard prices (ISP) while all MsHCV were more expensive than ISP. All MsHBV and MsHCV were unaffordable. Nigeria government should institute programs that enhance availability and affordability of MsHBV and MsHCV in community pharmacies.
METHODS: This multi-center study involved 36 randomly sampled eligible community pharmacies in June - August 2023. It adapted World Health Organization (WHO)/Health Action International (HAI) methods to evaluate APA of MsHBV and MsHCV in stock on a one-time visit to the pharmacies. The lists of MsHBV and MsHCV were based on WHO Essential Medicine List (EML [2019]) and Nigerian EML (2020). Data analyses involved descriptive and inferential statistics (bi-variate regression). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. This study's ethical approval was obtained from an Institutional Review Committee (ERC/MOH/2023/07/137).
RESULTS: Availability of MsHBV and MsHCV was 100% and 20% respectively. For individual MsHBV, majority (83.3%) had very low availability (< 30.0%). Only tenofovir disoproxil fumarate tablet had 33.3% availability. Also, individual MsHCV had very low availability (2.8%). Regarding prices of MsHBV, median buyer price (MBP) ranged NGN 65.84 - NGN 39,805 (USD 0.09 - USD 54.41). Most MsHBV had median price ratio (MPR) < 1. However, MsHCV had MPR > 1. Additionally, the lowest-paid Nigeria government employee required more than one day's wage (NGN 1000 [USD 1.37) to purchase available MsHBV and MsHCV. Prices of MsHBV were no predictors of their availability (p = 0.680).
CONCLUSIONS: Most MsHBV and all MsHCV had very low availability. All MsHBV were cheaper than international standard prices (ISP) while all MsHCV were more expensive than ISP. All MsHBV and MsHCV were unaffordable. Nigeria government should institute programs that enhance availability and affordability of MsHBV and MsHCV in community pharmacies.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
EPH129
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Infectious Disease (non-vaccine)